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About

Manu Prakash is a visionary researcher whose work bridges engineering, biology, and global health, with a focus on creating accessible scientific tools and understanding complex fluid dynamics. His key research areas include low-cost diagnostics, microfluidics, and biophysics, particularly the mechanics of swimming at microscopic scales. Prakash’s major contributions include the development of the Foldscope, an ultra-affordable paper microscope, and the Octopi platform—an open-configurable, high-throughput imaging system for infectious disease diagnosis in the field, which has garnered 45 citations for its potential to revolutionize point-of-care testing. His studies on the swimming of *Schistosoma mansoni* cercariae (23 citations) reveal how these parasites exploit elastohydrodynamic coupling for efficient propulsion, offering insights into infection mechanisms. Notably, his work on a freely suspended robotic swimmer (21 citations) demonstrates propulsion in viscoelastic fluids, challenging the scallop theorem and opening new avenues for micro-robotics. Prakash’s innovative, open-source designs and interdisciplinary approach have made him a leading figure in frugal science, with his work cited for its profound impact on both fundamental physics and practical diagnostics.